Sullivan and most sports journalists, and for that matter journalists are not objective. They have found that, by being opinionated, and having a bias, it help their brand, their draw, their increased readership.
I don't bother to waste my time reading Bucky, Sullivan, and a few others. Not because I don't agree with them, but because they act like what they do is professional, profound, and serves the masses in a good way.
Bucky and Sullivan are both an embarrassment to the profession at which they get paid, and an even bigger embarrassment to Buffalo NY.
The real fallacy that I think all of the Buffalo media point out, but which seems to get portrayed in the opposite way by the national media, is the consequences of the Regier-Ruff duo being in place for 15 years. While the national media always seems to hype in a positive light the rarity of any sports management pairing being together that long and how "special" that kind of stability and constancy is for a sprots franchise, the Buffalo media rightly remind us of the question what benefit exactly has that long-term duo provided? It has neither produced a champion nor led to some improved perception around the NHL that the Sabres are an organization to pursue playing for.
For me, the problem I have with the whole 15 years argument is that Darcy and Lindy have worked for three very different ownership groups. The Golisano Era and the Pegula Era might as well be completely different franchises as far as I'm concerned when it comes to their priorities and the mandate for the hockey department.
Pegula didn't need to keep them but the logic was understandable, IMO. If they can be reasonably competitive and successful under a mandate of breaking even, can they be successful with whatever resources Pegula can put at their disposal?
So when I evaluate whether Ruff and Regier can do the job long term, their service under the Rigases and Golisano, for me, is just background. IMO working under Golisano they might as well have been working in Phoenix, Rochester or on the moon for all I care. I'm really evaluating their ability to build a consistent contender with, effectively, limitless resources.
For me, it's whether I think the can build the contender Pegula has mandated. IMO, their evaluation should be from February 2011 to now and whether, in that time period, you can be convinced that they have the plan and the wherewithal to build a consistent, legitimate contender.
Not sure how Sullivan asking valid questions makes him pompous. I'd say most of us on this board are a lot tougher on the team than he is!
Asking valid questions doesn't make him pompous. Filling the article with phrases like "Pegula the Great Enabler" ( yes he used caps on the great enabler) and "time to reassure the fawning masses" makes it over the top.
They're (Sullivan and Gleason) pompous ***** and some of the least professional writers of sports drivel that I've ever had the lack of pleasure to read, but the points they are trying to make are not always off the mark.
They only have two possible columns they can write at the end of the year.
- WOOHOO!!! CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
or
- No championship? SOMEONE MUST BE FIRED!!!!
Not sure what anyone else really expects from them. Jerry Sullivan is a basketball guy that writes hockey columns because he works in a town where the sport is big. I'm sure he'd rather write for a paper where he could write basketball every day instead.
None of their opinions matter at all. TBN doesn't have hockey guys on staff who actually understand the game and how it's run. That's why I don't bother with opinion unless it's TSN or the Hockey News. At least they're informed.
And in more shocking news, Gleason has a rehash of an article talking about how Regier should be fired.
And takes like this one:
Quote:
This notion Pegula removed handcuffs from Regier was a myth. Tom Golisano acknowledged when he sold the team that he cared mostly about the bottom line, but Regier wasn't tied down. The Sabres were 15th, the top half, in payroll the previous two seasons.
Like was said about Sully, there is a case to be made to let Regier go. It just doesn't appear that Gleason is capable of making it.
But I agree that there has been a recent downward trend.... I don't know but I feel that someone needs to go. And like others have said, Ruff is a fine coach but sometimes there is no person-environment fit and changes of scenery are needed.
One could also reasonably give them a pass for the two bankruptcy years where they had problems with little things like, you know, paying people, and buying normal supplies to run the business. Small stuff I know.
BUF 1997-98 ...... Conference Finalist
BUF 1998–99 .......... Stanley Cup Finalist
BUF 1999–00 ........Conference Quarter-Finalist
BUF 2000–01 ........... Conference Semi-Finalist
BUF 2001–02 ....... 5th in Northeast – – – No playoffs
BUF 2002–03 ........ 5th in Northeast – – – No playoffs
BUF 2003–04 ........ 5th in Northeast – – – No playoffs
BUF 2005–06 ...... ..... Conference Finalist
BUF 2006–07........ Conference Finalist
BUF 2007–08 ...........4th in Northeast – – – No playoffs
BUF 2008–09 ...........3rd in Northeast – – – no playoffs
BUF 2009–10 ............ Conference Quarter-Finalist
BUF 2010–11 ............ Conference Quarter-Finalist
BUF 2011-12 ............ 3rd in Northeast – – – no playoffs
8 failed trips, 6 failures to reach entirely.... Zero cups...
Missed the playoffs entirely in 6 of the last 10 years; haven't won a playoff series since 2007 and most importantly haven't won a series since NHL creeped back to old style. Add that up with the miserable style of play, uninspired games, little checking, no sticking up for teammates and you have one big giant pile of ****.
Those stats don't lie. New culture is ****ing needed.
Missed the playoffs entirely in 6 of the last 10 years; haven't won a playoff series since 2007 and most importantly haven't won a series since NHL creeped back to old style. Add that up with the miserable style of play, uninspired games, little checking, no sticking up for teammates and you have one big giant pile of ****.
Those stats don't lie. New culture is ****ing needed.
I don't think anyone would disgree with that. I think the disagreement is how best to get there. Some feel we should ditch some players, others feel we should ditch Regier/Ruff and stil others think both should be done.
This is probably the only time I will stick up for Regier. He made things happen and it's not his fault that the results didn't add up. Ruff needs to go IMO. There do need to be core changes. Derek Roy has not and will never be a top line center. I'm not sure I have the unwavering support of Thomas Vanek anymore. Regier fleeced Vancouver at the deadline for Cody Hodgson. He's developed the farm well in recent drafts with Marcus Foligno and others. Last year before the start of the season he fleeced Calgary for Robyn Regher (Who I still think is a solid defensemen) and even got a 2nd round draft choice. He added Ehrhoff who's just been very injury prone. He cannot be faulted for Tyler Myers, Tyler Ennis, Robyn Regehr, Christian Ehrhoff's injuries. Or the inconsistencies shown by Ville Leino. Ruff puts the pieces in play. I still have faith in the defense and in Ryan Miller/Jonas Enroth. I do think that players do need to be moved to create different dynamics.
